Got rear-ended by a company van, sandwiched into the car ahead — totally lost here

Almost the exact same thing happened to me — company vehicle, driver who 'didn't see' stopped traffic, supervisor on scene suspiciously fast. That last part is actually a red flag. In my experience, when a supervisor shows up that quickly it sometimes means they were already aware of a problem with that driver or that vehicle. Document everything you remember about that conversation with the supervisor. Timestamps, what they said, all of it.

The 'we're looking into the policy' line from the company's insurer is a stall tactic. Don't sit around waiting for them to sort themselves out while your medical bills pile up and your neck gets worse. They are not on your side, full stop. Every day that passes is a day they're hoping you'll either give up or say something that hurts your claim.

Worked on the insurance side for years. When a commercial carrier says they can't 'locate' a policy over a weekend, that's almost always administrative noise — it'll get found Monday morning. What I'd actually watch for is whether the driver was listed on the policy at all, or whether he was operating outside his authorized duties when it happened. If there's any gap there, they'll try to use it. Not saying that's what's happening, just — keep asking questions and get everything in writing.

A few things worth knowing: because the at-fault vehicle is a commercial van, there may be multiple layers of coverage — the driver, the company, and sometimes a separate commercial auto policy. You may also be able to request dashcam footage, driver logs, and maintenance records through a formal process if this ends up in litigation. Those records can disappear if no one asks for them early. Also, most PI attorneys work on contingency, meaning no upfront cost to you — they take a percentage only if you recover something. Worth at least a free consult.

Please don't brush off the neck stiffness and headaches. Soft tissue injuries from rear-end collisions can take days or even weeks to fully show up, and if you wait too long to get properly evaluated it can look like the injuries appeared 'later' — which insurance companies love to argue means they're not related to the crash. Go see an actual doctor, not just urgent care, and make sure everything is documented in your medical record. A headache diary sounds silly but it genuinely helps.

File with YOUR insurance now. Use your own collision coverage to get your car sorted so you can get back to work. Your insurer will go after the company's insurer on your behalf — that's literally called subrogation and it's their job. You don't have to be the one wrestling with a commercial carrier while you're also hurt and carless. Deal with your own people first.

I just want to say — the fact that you're still showing up to work while dealing with all of this is a lot. Please don't let the insurance stress push you into settling fast just to make it go away. Take care of yourself first and make sure your injuries are actually treated before you sign anything.

Quick question — did you get a copy of the police report yet? And was the responding officer able to confirm the driver was on duty at the time? Because 'company logo on the van' and 'company is actually liable' aren't automatically the same thing. Some contractors use branded vehicles. Not trying to discourage you, just want to make sure you know what you're actually dealing with before you assume the company's deep pockets are in play.